EMBLEM HELPS
3-D ART (Explorers)
FOAM BOARD CONSTRUCTION IDEA
Materials:
 Foam board cut into small squares (3” to 4") - use scraps if you have them
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Toothpicks
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Felt pens; q-tips and paints in assorted colors; or markers of your choice
Decorate the foam board squares with paint, pens or markers before construction.
Stick the toothpicks into the soft insides of the foam core and connect pieces together to create
3-D art sculptures.
PLASTER GAUZE BOWLS
Materials:
 Something to mold the gauze around to form the bowl (I've used plastic cereal bowls or
small salad bowls. Don't use cardboard (its to hard to unmold) or Styrofoam, (it melts and is
not eco-friendly.)
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Plaster gauze cut into 1”x6” strips (E-Z Form Plaster Cloth Wrap from Hobby Lobby)
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Bowls of clean cold water
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Plastic garbage bag cut open to cover the table
Set the bowl to be used as a base upside down on the table. The gauze strips are soaked in the
water and then the excess is removed with "fingers like scissors". Apply gauze strips, layer by
layer all around the outside of the bowl until it's about 3-4 layers deep. Set aside to "set-up".
This takes a surprisingly short amount of time. You can feel the plaster becoming hot just before
it's done. (About 20-30 minutes)
The bowls usually just pop right off the mold, especially on plastic that can be wiggled a bit. You
COULD spray the glass with some Pam just to be safe but it does cause discoloration and
prevent paint from adhering.
Paint the molded bowls painted with tempera or acrylics.
NOTE: Try using tall plastic cups as a base to make pencil holders, too. Metal doesn’t seem to
work as well.
TELEPHONE WIRE SCULPTURES
Materials:
Colorful telephone wire ( you can sometimes pick this up at garage sales)
 Hard Styrofoam for a base (or florists foam)
Child wraps, twists, bends and molds shapes out of the wire. Let their imagination guide them
to what they want to create.
IDEAS FOR 3-D CONSTRUCTION
Set out squeeze bottles of white glue and any or all of the following, and let child use his
imagination to create works of art:
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Wood scraps
Corks
Craft sticks
Plastic laminate samples
Ceramic tile samples
Wooden beads
Pieces of pipe cleaners
Odd pieces of wooden puzzles and games
Egg cartons cut into single cells
Toothpicks
Wooden skewers
Bottle caps
Cardboard scraps
I like to provide a large "base" of some kind for each child, such as: a matte board; foam core;
or a large piece of wood. Make friends with a local carpenter!
3-D PICTURE PROJECT
This 3-D picture project is fun and easy to do. Just outline a simple picture with acrylic paints,
colored pencils, or pastel chalks to make it a three-dimensional work of art.
Materials:
 Colored Pencils
 Acrylic paints
 Construction paper
 Pastel chalks
 Whatever medium you choose to color the picture such as crayons or markers, etc.
 Glue that dries clear
Directions:
Step 1:
Draw a picture to color or color one from a coloring book. Mount this picture on a
piece of construction paper, to provide a firm base for the picture and so the paints won’t go
through it as easily.
Step 2:
Outline all the objects on the completed picture with acrylic paints or pastel chalks to
make them stand out. Be sure to watch for details.
Step 3: Put a line of glue around the objects and put some construction paper in the glue.
This works well on round parts such as tires. Bend the paper to match each part of the outline.
Step 4:
Check to see if you need to add more details.
I suggest that you try this ahead of time so you have some “experience” before you attempt
them with your groups.
Submitted By:
Juanita Belcher
Divisional Character Building Program Director, Heartland Division
USA Central Territory